Acetylene generator



. Patented Dec. 2, 1941 acrzmm emperor.

131111091. De Mott e, Indianapolis, ma, allignor to Osweld Acetylene Company, a corporation of West Virginia Application March 29, 1938, Serial No. 198,828

' 16 Claims. (Ci. 48-533) This invention relates to acetylene generators of the carbide-to-water type. and particularly to relatively small portable generators capable of producing suiiicient acetylene for field use.

Heretofore, portable generators of the carbideto-water type have been constructed for field use, but they have beenof such size that their cost is prohibitive for small jobs such as those encountered by the owners of small welding and repair shops. These relatively large portable generators often weigh'in the. neighborhood of two thousand pounds when fully charged, and as much as one thousand pounds when empty. They are large enough to readily accommodate control mechanism sumcient .to impart to them I operating characteristics of the highest standards. Other, portable generators of relatively,

small size and light weight have been constructed including the carbide-to-water type, as well as those which operate on the water recession principle. While these relatively small generators accomplish to. some extent the purpose for which they were designed, certain objections arise with their use including inadequate carbide-feed control mechanism; inaccessibility of, parts for cleaning and repair; and complexity of design.

The use of small water-recession type generators also may be objectionable because it is often impossible to prevent after-generation oi acetylene during extended periods of generator idleness.

An object of this invention is to provid a relatively small-capacity light-weight inexpensive acetylene generator possessing operating characteristics equivalent to those of the relatively large portable, generators.

j Other objects include the provision of such a generator in which the carbide hopper is pivotallyconnected to the water tank by a connection capable of being adjusted to effect a substantially perfect seal between the two sections; the provision of such a generator including a pressure-responsive device for actuating the carbide feed valve and including manually operable means for closing the carbide feed valve independently of the action of such pressure-responsive device; the provision of such a generator including a pressure-responsive device of such construction that only a relatively slight movement of the diaphragm thereof is necessary to effect opening and-closing of the carbide feed valve; the provision of sucha generator having a 1 the flow of carbide past the feed valve in the pressure responsive device including a diaphragm slight variations of acetylene pressure in the event the magnifying linkage should break or become disconnected; the provision of such a generator including a unitary carbide feed control assembly; and the provision of such a generator including simple and effective interfer-- ence mechanism which will insure the release of acetylene pressure therein before the generator can be opened.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification considered-in the light of companying drawing. in which:

Fig. l is an elevational view, partly in section, of an acetylene generator to which the principles of this invention have been applied;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 I of Fig. 1; and I Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The invention is shown in Fig. 1 as applied to an acetylene generator of the carbide-to -water type, comprising an upper and a lower portion, the latter comprising a tank T having an opening at its upper end, adapted to contain water in its lower portion, and to confine acetylene thereabove. The upper portion of the generator comprises a carbide hopper H which is pivotally connected to the tank T by a hinge P (see Fig.

2). The hopper H is adapted to contain calcium carbide which is fed to the water within tank I by a pressure-responsive device R. A manually operable feed-valve control mechanism M is associated with the pressure-responsive device R for initially opening the feed valve, and for finally closing the same when generation of acetylene is to be terminated. a

The tank T comprises a substantially cylindrical shell it closed at its bottom by a base I 2, and provided with a shoulder plate It at its upper extremity. The tank T is provided with a water overflow plug l8, and a residue valve 20. It is further provided with a. sludge-agitating paddle 22 mounted on a shaft 24, the latter being journalled in diametrically opposed bearings 26 and 28. The bearing 28 is in the form of a packing gland for accommodating one end the ace of shaft 24 which extends to a point outside 01' the shell l0. That portion of shaft 24 which extends outside of the shell I8 is bent to form a handle 38. Thus it is seen that oscillating the handle 80 causes stirring of the sludge within the bottom of the shell ill by the corresponding movement of the paddle 22. The handle 80 is maintained in vertical position when not in use by a pivotally mounted yoke 32.

In order to prevent the splashing of waterwithin the shell whenthe generator is moved over rough terrain in field use, a baiile 84 is fixed therein. It comprises a pair of angle plates, the outer edges of which are welded to the inner surface of the shell I8, and the abutting apices of which may or may not be welded together.

The hopper H comprises a sheet metal body portion 36 having an inverted frusto-conical lower portion 38 adapted to be attached to a forged or cast hopper outlet 40. The outlet 40 is adapted to cooperate with a member 42 welded or otherwise fastened to the shoulder plate I4 oi the shell I. The member 42 is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 44 (see Fig. 3) adapted to receive a bearing portion 46 of the outlet 40. In

order to provide means for insuring accurate parallel alignment of the cooperating surfaces of outlet 40 and member 42, an adjustment is provided between the bearing 46 and a pivot pin 48 passing through the lugs 44. The adjustment may comprise an eccentric bushing 50 mounted 'between the pin 48 and the bearing 46. A set screw 54, threaded into bearing 46, is adapted to lock the bushing 58 and bearing 46 relative to each other in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions. The one end of bushing 58 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 56 adapted to receive a pin for eflecting rotative movement of the bushing 50. A portion of the bearing 46 is machined out to afford access to at least one of the openings 56.

In order to avoid undue straining of the hinge P when the hopper H is opened, an abutting element is connected to the hopper. Referring to Fig. 2, this element comprises a strap 51 welded to the hopper at the top of the frusto-conical portion 38, and to the bearing 46. It is provided with a portion 59 adapted to rest on the shoulder plate l4 and support the hopper H when the latter is in an open position.

A rubber gasket 58 is adapted to be positioned between the outlet 48 and the member 42 for-insuring an hermetical seal between the hopper H and the tank T. The hopper H is held in sealed relation with respect to the tank T by a releasable connection including a threaded rod 60 pivotally mounted on the member 42 by a pin 63. A handwheel 62 is threaded on the rod 60 and is adapted to cooperate with a yoke 64 formed integral with the element 48. The handwheel 62 is attached to the rod 68 in a manner to prevent its complete removal therefrom, but is capable of being loosened sufiiciently to permit it to clear the yoke 64.

The carbide hopper H is further provided with a charging door 66 having an observation window 68 located therein. An additional window 68 is provided in said hopper at a point diametrically opposite from the window 68, to admit light thereinto for visually determining the quantity of carbide within the hopper.

A valve 12 is adapted to close the opening between the hopper H and the tank T. It comprises a seating element removably fastened to a valve rod I4 by a nut 16. Thevalve rod 14 extends vertically upward and in alignment with the opening between the hopper H and tank T. Its upper portion is connected to the pressure-responsive device R and to the valve-closing mechanism M.

The pressure-responsive device R is adapted to control the operation of the valve 12 in response to variations in pressure of acetylene within the upper portion of tank T. It comprises an assembly which may be mounted in or removed from the hopper H as a unit for purposes of inspection, cleaning and repair. Referring again to Fig. 1, the pressure-responsive device R includes a resilient diaphragm 18 covering an opening in the upper portion of the hopper H, and in vertical alignment with the opening between the hopper H and the tank T. For the purpose of limiting the size of the respective parts of the generator so as to maintain a minimum weight, the diaphragm is so constructed that movement is imparted to it by even relatively slight variations in acetylene pressure within'the tank T. The pressure within hopper H corresponds to the pressure within tank T due to the vent I42 leading from within outlet 48 to the interior of hopper H (see Fig. 2). In order to transmit suflicient movement to the valve rod 14 to effect proper opening of the valve 12, a magnifying linkage has been employed between the diaphragm and the valve rod 14. As shown in Fig. 1, this linkage comprises a member I8 integral with a flange ring 88 which surrounds the periphery of the diaphragm 16 and contacts its lower surface. The member 18 is pivotally connected with one end of a cross link 82, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected with one end of a link. The opposite end of link 84 is connected to a link 86. The two ends of link 86 are pivotally attached to a member 88 integral with the flange ring 80, and the valve rod 14, respectively. The center of the diaphragm I8 is attached to one end of a link 86, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the cross link 82. The points of attachment of the links 84 and 90 to the respective cross links 86 and 82 may be such as to provide any convenient amplification'of the movement of diaphragm'16. However, in the present embodiment they are so connected to provide a six to one ratio of movement between the diaphragm and the rod 14. Thus it is seen that slight movement of the diaphragm 76 will be amplified by the linkage between it and the rod 14 so as to substantially increase the latters movement when movement of the former occurs. The above-described magnifying linkage, and a substantial portion of the valve rod I4 is enclosed within a housing 13, thus preventing the carbide within hopper H from interfering with the operation of said linkage and rod.

In order to prevent feeding of carbide from the hopper H to the tank T in the event the magnifying linkage breaks, or becomes disconnected, a safety valve 15 (see Fig. 2) is provided on the rod 14 above the valve 12 so that it will seal the opening between the hopper H and tank T in the event rod 14 drops to an open position due to such breakage or disconnection.

The top or atmospheric side of the diaphragm 16 supports a pressure plate 82 rigidly fixed thereto by the connection between link 90 and diaphragm 16. A compression spring 94 is supported on its one end by the plate 92 within a housing 96 which is vented to the atmosphere. The spring 94 is adapted to be compressed to different degrees for the purpose of varying the pressure on the atmospheric side of the diaphragm I6 in order to vary .the effectiveness of said diaphragm. This spring adjustment may be accomplished by providing an adjusting plate 98 in position within housing 96 to abut against theend of spring 94 opposite to the end-in contact with plate 92.

The plate 98 isthreaded onto a hollow screw I located within the coils of spring 94 and extending through, and journalled in, a bushing I02 welded to the top of housing 96. The screw I00 is provided with an end portion I04 adapted to form a thrust bearing with the upper end of the bushing I02. A guide rod I06 is fixed to the head of housing 96, depending therein and passing through an aperture within the plate 98 for effecting axial movement of plate 98 when screw I00 is rotated.

A handle I08 is provided with a cam portion IIO adapted to fit within a slot I05 in the top of bearing I04 so that rotation of the handle I08 in a horizontal plane will effect rotation of the screw I00 to thereby cause axial movement'of the plate 98 and thereby vary the compression of spring 94.

The manual valve-closing mechanism M includes a rod II2 extending through the hollow screw I00. Its one end is connected to the handle I08 by a pin H4, and its other end is provided with a collar II6 adapted to support a disc I I8. The disc I I8 is adapted to provide a releasable connection between the rod II 2 and the diaphragm I6 to effect movement of the diaphragm only in one direction. This may be accomplished by providing a cylindrical shell I20 open at both ends, and welded at its lower end to the plate 92. The upper end of the shell I20 may be provided with an inturned edge adapted to overlie the disc II8. Vertical upward movement of the rod I I2 may be effected by the downward movement of the handle I08 in a vertical plane so that the cam surface III of the cam portion IIO engages the bottom of the slot in the bearing I04. A compression spring I24 surrounds the rod H2 and abuts against the lower end of the hollow screw I 00 and the upper surface of the disc H8.

Thus it is seen that when the handle I08 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the cam surface I I I acts against the bottom of the slot I05 to effect vertically upward movement of the rod I I2, thus lifting the diaphragm I6 and the valve rod 14 to effect positive closing of the valve I2. Rotation of the handle I08 in the same vertical plane, through 180 degrees, will permit vertical downward movement of the rod II2 so that the disc I I8 is moved out of engagement with the intumed edge of the shell I20. This will permit the spring 94 to effect a downward movement of the diaphragm I6, and a corresponding downward movement of valve rod I4. The spring I24 functions to maintain .the rod I I2 in fixed position and prevents it from vibrating when the rod I I2 is moved to a position out of engagement with the shell I20.

The tank T is provided with a safety-relief valve I26 connected to the gas-collecting portion of said tank. Acetylene gas generated within the tank T passes therefrom through a pipe I28 to a hydraulic back-pressure valve I30. The gas exits from the hydraulic back-pressure valve I30 through a nipple I32 to a service outlet I34. An additional safety-relief valve I36 is connected to the service outlet and the back-pressure valve I30.

In order to insure the release of acetylene under opening of the generator.

pressurewithin the tank'T and the hydraulic back-pressure valve I30 before the generator can be opened, an interference mechanism has been provided. Referring to Fig. l, the interference mechanism comprises a horizontally reciprocable rod I38 having portions adapted to interfere with the rotation of handwheel 62 and the pivoting of rod when it is in the position shown in solid lines, and to release these elements when moved leftward to the-position shown in dot and dash lines. The one end of rod I38 is connected to the operating lever I29 of the relief valve I26. It

extends angularly downwardly from lever I29 to a point slightly above the shoulder plate I4, thence substantially horizontally through a guide I3I. Just beyond the guide I3I, rod I38 is rightangularly bent, forming a portion which passes through a slot in the extended end I33 of the pivot pin 63. The rod I39 then extends angularly upwardly and is connected to the operating lever of relief valve I36, which lever is located behind said relief valve and is, therefore, not shown in the drawing.

A member I35, welded to rod I38, is provided with a portion I3I adapted to engage within slots I39 in the handwheel 62 when the rod I38 is in its right-hand position. In this position portion I31 prevents the unscrewing of handwheel 62. and thereby serves as an additional precaution against opening the generator before releasing the gas pressure therein.

Horizontal reciprocation of the interference rod I38 is effected by turning, or oscillating, a hand lever I2I connected to lever I 29. Inasmuch as the interference mechanism is actuated only when it is desired to open the generator, it is constructedand arranged in a manner to avoid its accidental operation. The valve I26 is adjusted so that it will be closed when handle I2I is directed inwardly toward the hopper H. Thus han- -dle I2! is protected from accidental manipulation by virtue of its inaccessible location. Furthermore, this handle must be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction in order to effect the necessary horizontal movement of rod I38 to permit The angular adjustment of lever I29, for closed position, and the counter-clockwise motion necessary to effect its opening, provides a dead center position beyond which lever I29 must pass before the opening or closing of the valve I26 can be effected. Thus it is seen .that with the lever I29, handle I21, and rod I 38 in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1, relief-valves I26 and I36 are closed; handwheel 62 cannot be rotated; nor can rod 60be turned about its pivot.- Counter-clockwise movement of handle I2I from its position in solid lines to its position in dot and dash lines will effect .the movement of rod I38 to the left, thus opening valves I26 and I36, and releasing handwheel 62 as well as pivot pin 63.

Assuming that the tank T is filled with water to the overflow plug I8, the hydraulic back-pressure valve I30 is filled with water, the carbide hopper H is charged with calcium carbide, and the handle I08 is in the position shown in Fig. l, the, operation of the generator is as follows.

Moving the handle I08 in a vertical plane through degrees will release the diaphragm I6. The action of the spring 94 will then depress diaphragm I6, and the latters movement will .be amplified by, and transmitted to the valve rod I4, by the linkage including the levers I8 and 86. Thus valve I2 will be opened to cause calcium carbide to flow from the hopper H into the water within tank '1. As the generated gas increases in pressure within the tank '1', it will force the diaphragm l6 upwardly against the action of spring ll to thereby close the valve 12, thus shutting off the flow of carbide to the water within tank T.

As the pressure decreases in the tank T due to the withdrawal of acetylene therefrom through the service outlet I, the reduced pressure will be transmitted to the diaphragm through the vent I42 between the hopper H and the tank '1. when the pressure within tank T and hopper H decreases to a point below the pressure exerted by the atmosphere and the spring 94, diaphragm I! will be moved to open the valve 12 thereby continuing the feed of carbide to the water within tank T. When it is desired to shut down the operation of the generator over an extended period, it is only necessary to rotate the handle I08 in a vertical plane through 180 degrees to the position shown in Fig. 1.

when it is desired to recharge the generator, or inspect it, the rod I38 is moved to the left by turning handle I21 in a counter-clockwise direction, thus releasing the pressure within tank T and the hydraulic back-pressure valve I30. This leftward movement of rod I" also releases handwheel 62 and pivot pin 83. The handwheel 62 is then loosened and the rod 60 is pivoted about its pivot pin I thereby releasing the hopper H and permitting it to be rotated about the hinge P.

Although the various features of the improved generator have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of this invention, it will be evident that numerous details, and certain features, may be used without others,

without departing from the principles of the invention.

I claim:

1. An acetylene generator comprising a lower portion adapted to contain water; an upper portion having a hopper adapted to contain calcium carbide and provided with a carbide feed opening; a carbide feed valve adapted to control the flow of carbide from said upper portion through said opening to the water within said lower portion; a pressure-responsive device connected to said feed valve and having a diaphragm constructed for movement in response to relatively slight variations of acetylene pressure in said generator; and means connecting said diaphragm and said valve and adapted to transmit the movement of said diaphragm to said valve, said means comprising a pair of inter-connected overlapping links adapted to amplify the movement transmitted to said valve from said diaphragm; said diaphragm, valve, and carbide feed opening being arranged in substantially axial alignment.

2. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 1, in which such connecting means is wholly enclosed within said calcium carbide hopper.

3. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 1, in which such connecting means comprises a pair of pivotally mounted links, and in which said diaphragm is connected at a point intermediate the ends of one of said links, said valve is connected to one end of the other link, and one end of the former link is connected at a point intermediate the ends of the latter link.

4. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 1, in which said carbide feed valve is provided with safety means which comprises a valve located above said carbide feed valve and in alignment therewith.

5. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 1,

in which said links are located entirely within \he upp r portion of said generator and separated from the carbide therein by a housing.

6. An acetylene generator comprising a lower portion adapted to contain water and having an opening at its upper end; an upper portion adapted to contain calcium carbide and having an opening in its lower end; a carbide feed valve adapted to control the flow of carbide from said upper portion through said openings into the water within said lower portion; a pressureresponsive device connected to said feed valve including a diaphragm having one surface exposed to the pressure of the generated acetylene and constructed for movement in response to relatively slight variations of acetylene pressure within said generator; a compression spring acting on the other side of said diaphragm; spring-adjusting means for varying the pressure exerted by said spring; manually operable means for controlling said spring-adjusting means; and auxiliary means independent of said spring-adjusting means but associated with said manually operable means for closing said carbide feed valve independently of the action of said spring.

7. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 6, in which said auxiliary means comprises a rod extending through said spring-adjusting means and connected to said diaphragm.

8. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 6, in which said auxiliary means comprises a rod extending through said spring-adjusting means and provided with a releasable connection to said diaphragm, whereby said rod is adapted to move said diaphragm only in the direction which will close said carbide feed valve; and a spring for maintaining said rod in fixed position when it is released from said diaphragm.

9. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 6, in which said auxiliary means comprises a rod extending through said spring-adjusting means and. connected to said manually operable means, and in which said manually operable means is provided with a cam surface adapted to engage a slotted member connected to said spring-ad- Justing means, whereby rotation of said manually operable means in a horizontal plane will effect adjustment of said spring, and movement of said manually operable means in a vertical plane will effect closing of said carbide feed valve independently of said spring-adjusting means.

10. An acetylene generator comprising a lower portion adapted to contain water and provided with an opening at its upper end; an upper portion adapted to contain calcium carbide and provided with a carbide feed opening at its lower end; a carbide feed valve adapted to control the flow of carbide from said upper portion through said carbide feed opening to the water within said lower portion; a pressure-responsive device connected to said feed valve and having a diaphragm constructed for movement in response to relatively slight variations of acetylene pressure in said generator; means connecting said diaphragm and said valve and adapted to amplify the movement of said diaphragm and transmit said amplified movement to said valve; a spring acting against one side of said diaphragm; spring-adjusting means for varying the effectiveness of said diaphragm; manually operable means connected to said diaphragm and adapted to close said feed valve independently of the action of said spring; a housing enclosing said spring, said spring-adjusting means, and said manually operable means; the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that the amplifying means, diaphragm, spring, spring adjusting means, manually operable means, and housing may be removed from said generator as almitary assembly.

11. A unitary assembly for use with an acety lene generator comprising a housing; a diaphragm closing one end of said housing; a spring and a spring-adjusting means located within said housing, said spring acting against said diaphragm; said spring-adjusting means including a plate acting against said spring, and means for moving said plate to vary the pressure which said spring exerts against said diaphragm; manually operable means for operating said spring-adjusting means; and means connected to said manually operable means and provided with a releasable connection to said diaphragm, whereby said diaphragm may be moved against the pressure exerted thereon by said spring. 7

12. An acetylene generator comprising a lower portion adapted to contain water; an upper portion pivotally connected to said lower portion and adapted to contain calcium carbide, said portions being provided with sealing means including a pivotally mounted element and a clamping means therefor, said element and clamping means being adapted to be locked in position to effect a gas-tight seal between said portions; a hydraulic back-pressure valve mounted on said lower portion; pressure-relief valves connected to said lower portion and said hydraulic valve; and means for simultaneously opening said relief valves and for releasing said element and said clamping means.

13. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 12, in which said clamping means comprises a handwheel screwed onto said pivotally mounted element, and in which such opening and releasing means comprises a reciprocable rod having portions adapted to engage slots in the extended lene within said tank, and the other side subject end of the pivot pin of said element and in said to the pressure of a spring, means for adjusting said spring to vary the pressure exerted thereby on said diaphragm, means within said hopper for connecting said valve to the central portion of said diaphragm, such connecting means being constructed and adapted to amplify even the smallest motion of such central portion of the diaphragm while transmitting such amplified motion to said valve, and a manually-operable device outside said hopper and swingable into either of two positions, means between said device and said diaphragm constructed and arranged so that the swinging of said device to one of said positions moves said central portion of the diaphragm in one direction to close said valve and to retain the same in closed position independently of the pressure exerted on said diaphragm by said spring, and so that the swinging of said device to the other of said positions releases said diaphragm and said valve to automatically feed carbide into said tank in response to variations of acetylene pressure against said diaphragm; a housing enclosing said spring and secured .to said hopper; and a housing inside said hopper and vertically coaxial with said spring housing, said inside housing enclosing said means which amplifies and transmits motion from said diaphragm to said valve.

15. An acetylene generator comprising a' tank adapted to contain water; a calcium carbide hopper hinged to said tank and adapted to form an hermetical seal therewith; means for clamping said hopper and tank in sealed relation; automatic pressure-relief means for relieving excessive pressure within said generator, said relief means also being manually operable for relieving the operating pressure within said generator; and interference mechanism connected to said pressure-relief means and adapted to cooperate with said clamping means to lock the latter, the construction and arrangement being such that manual operation of said relief means must be effected before such clamping means can be released.

16. An acetylene generator as claimed in claim 15, in which an operating lever is connected to said relief means and to said interference mechanism and adapted to be swung past a dead center position in order to operate said relief means and release said clamping means.

MAURICE P. DE MO'I'I'E. 

